Introducing NEST Fine Fragrances & A Review

Date: 2013.01.03 | Category: fragrance | Tags: body butter,citrus,green floral fragrances,lime,NEST,passion flower,perfume bottles,perfume review,vanilla,vanilla orchid

My favorite home fragrance line has finally done it; they’ve finally made a fine personal fragrance line. The Fine Fragrance line consists of 3 perfumes that come in a 3.4 oz spray, rollerball (about .3 oz) and body cream.

The Fine Fragrance line is inspired by the artwork of 18th century artist Mary Delany and her “Paper Mosaiks”, botanical artworks meticulously created with varying shades and textures of paper. The noses behind the scents are Christophe Laudamiel (Estee Lauder Youth Dew Amber Nude, Michael Kors Island) and Jerome Epinette (Byredo Pulp, Fresh Cannabis Rose). I rarely comment on packaging but the packaging of this line is gorgeous. The bottles are matte black with Delany inspired prints from artist Alexander “Sasha” Solodukho.

Amazon Lily includes notes of Brazilian lime, tangerine, bergamot, Galapagos driftwood and white musk. PERFUMER – Christophe Laudamiel

Amazon Lily opens with tart citrus peels and something that reminds me of evergreens. Amazon Lily is a perfect blend of bitter citrus and woods. It’s so perfect that it becomes fantasy. My imagination takes over… It’s a dark rain forest, spiked with electric shades of chartreuse flowers that vine up smooth, birch-like trees. These flowers are “absinthe lilies” – herbs, slightly floral, astringent citrus. These vines climb up the tree reaching for the light. The base is woods, white musk with a hint of green.

Because of the woods and white musk, this citrus will last on your skin for a very long time. I’m not usually one to fall in love with citrus, but I’m really attracted to Amazon Lily. It’s darker and more mysterious than most. How many mysterious citrus perfumes are in this world? Not many.

Try it if you like Tom Ford Azure Lime, Malin + Goetz Lime Tonic, LUSH Dear John, aroma M Geisha Green and/or Penhaligon’s Blenheim Bouquet. Amazon Lily is the most unisex out of the three. Fans of bitter citrus scents should try this.

Victoria’s Final EauPINION - A mysterious citrus. A fantasy jungle of citrus, florals, and woods. This is my favorite out of all 3 of the NEST Fine Fragrances.

Midnight Fleur includes notes of exotic woods, patchouli, black amber, night blooming jasmine and vanilla orchid. PERFUMER – Jerome Epinette

Midnight Fleur opens with dried pineapple over creamy florals. The florals remind me of davana and jasmine over lots of raw vanilla extract. It’s warm and humid. With time the vanilla becomes less boozy and more floral in the way that I imagine a vanilla orchid smells. And there is a hint of banana-ish ylang-ylang and vanilla.

Give Midnight Fleur a try if you like creamy florals. Or if you like Lady Gaga Fame (this NEST one is like a stronger, better version; Fame wishes it was this good), Burberry Brit, Bvlgari Black, Calvin Klein Euphoria, Serge Lutens Datura Noir, and/or Estee Lauder Sensuous. I feel the tone of this one is “evening”. Wear it with sequins. Or wear it when you wish you were wearing sequins.

Victoria’s Final EauPINION – A “dark” tropical floral with pineapple, davana and vanilla.

Passiflora includes notes of passion flower, water hyacinth, lily of the valley, green notes and watery notes. PERFUMER – Christophe Laudamiel

Passiflora opens as a green and watery floral with hints of freshly sliced watermelon. This is over a bed of heady spring florals. With time the passion flower becomes more noticeable and becomes sweeter reminding me of summer florals and ripening pears. And then it turns more into an intense watery passion flower floating in a water garden.

So many of the passion flower perfumes that I’ve tried have been creamy or sweet (overly sweet in my opinion). Passiflora is watery, green. Try it if you like perfumes like Prescriptives Calyx, Ralph Lauren Blue, Bvlgari Omnia Coral, Michael Kors Island and/or aroma M Geisha Blanche. If you like watery florals, this is a must try.

Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Watery, green spring floral. Passion flower that isn’t too sweet.

All of the NEST Fine Fragrances have sillage and above average longevity. I’ve noticed that the rollerballs project just as much as the spray.

A review of the Body Cream

I forgot how luxurious perfumed body creams are. The packaging of this one is hefty, feels so expensive. The cream doesn’t skimp on luxury either. The texture is amazing and it’s fragrant. The base is shea with moisturizing oils of grape seed and sweet almond. I don’t think you’d need the perfume if you slather yourself in this. I tried my favorite Amazon Lily. It’s pretty true to the perfume except it’s a bit woodier, wears more like the mid and base notes.

NEST Fine Fragrances are available at Neiman Marcus. The 3.4 oz EDPs retail for $115, the rollerballs go for $30 (a deal) and the 6.7 oz body cream retails for $50.

Want more reviews? Try…

Ça Fleure Bon

Best Things in Beauty

Fragrantica – Member reviews of Midnight Fleur

Eyeliner on a Cat – Review of Midnight Fleur

*Disclaimer – Product provided by NEST. I am not financially compensated for this review. My opinions are my own.